New International VersionThe elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth--and not I only, but also all who know the truth--

New Living TranslationThis letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—

English Standard VersionThe elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

Berean Study BibleThe elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—

Berean Literal BibleThe elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those having known the truth--

New American Standard Bible The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

King James BibleThe elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

Christian Standard BibleThe elder: To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth--and not only I, but also all who know the truth--

Contemporary English VersionFrom the church leader. To a very special woman and her children. I truly love all of you, and so does everyone else who knows the truth.

Good News TranslationFrom the Elder--To the dear Lady and to her children, whom I truly love. And I am not the only one, but all who know the truth love you,

Holman Christian Standard BibleThe Elder: To the elect lady and her children: I love all of you in the truth--and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth--

International Standard VersionFrom: The Elder To: The chosen lady and her children, whom I genuinely love, and not only I but also all who know the truth,

NET BibleFrom the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth),

New Heart English BibleThe elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth;

Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishThe Elder to The Elect lady and her children, those whom I love in the truth, but it is not I only, but also all those who know the truth,

GOD'S WORD® TranslationFrom the church leader. To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love because we share the truth. I'm not the only one who loves you. Everyone who knows the truth also loves you.

New American Standard 1977 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

Jubilee Bible 2000The elder unto the chosen lady and her sons, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all those that have known the truth,

King James 2000 BibleThe elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

American King James VersionThe elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

American Standard VersionThe elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

Douay-Rheims BibleThe ancient to the lady Elect, and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth,

Darby Bible TranslationThe elder to [the] elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only but also all who have known the truth,

English Revised VersionThe elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

Webster's Bible TranslationThe elder to the elect lady, and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

Weymouth New TestamentThe Elder to the elect lady and her children. Truly I love you all, and not I alone, but also all who know the truth,

World English BibleThe elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth;

Young's Literal Translation The Elder to the choice Kyria, and to her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those having known the truth,

whoοἱ(hoi)Article - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's Greek 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

knowἐγνωκότες(egnōkotes)Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's Greek 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

theτὴν(tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's Greek 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

(1) A man so well-known to his correspondent that he only calls himself "the old man," or, "the elder," writes to a mother, whose name is possibly Kyria, and to her children. Her sister's children are in the same place as the writer. The two mothers are both honoured with the religious title "elect." The writer (we assume from the introduction that he is the Apostle John) loves the family with true Christian love. All who are in the way of truth have the same feelings for them, for the truth is a bond of union between all such. He wishes them grace, mercy, and peace from the Father and the Son, in all their thoughts and all their affections (2John 1:1-3).

Unto the elect lady.--St. Paul uses "elect" in exactly the same way (Romans 16:13). (Comp. also 1Peter 1:1-2.) The use of the epithet for the sister in 2John 1:13 shows that it is impossible that the word should be the correspondent's name. The Greek word, however, for "lady," (Kuria, or Kyria) was a proper name; so that those who think that St. John addresses "the elect Kyria" are at liberty to do so. The absence of the article would not be more surprising in that case than it would be if we translate "lady," for "elect" would evidently be in such familiar use that the article would be easily omitted.

If the name of the matron is not given, it is not absurd to suppose that the dangers of the times, or family persecution, may have made it advisable that both her name and that of the writer should be withheld. The messenger would supply both deficiencies.

The term "lady" would not imply anything about her social station. Epictetus says that all women above fourteen were addressed by men in this term.

And her children.--Those of them who were with their mother. St. John seems to have seen some of the family later.

Whom I love in the truth.--Rather, in truth; i.e., with true Christian love, with all the sincerity, purity, and respect, which the true love which springs from God requires. (See Notes on 1John 3:18-19.)

And not I only . . .--St. John disclaims any special peculiarity in his affection for the family. All Christians who had been brought or should be brought into relation with them would have the same feeling; because the character of all of them was based on the truth as it is in Christ, and moulded on it.

(2) For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.--The personal form of this sentence irresistibly reminds us of John 15:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." If Christ is once in our hearts, He will not leave us unless we deliberately leave Him. The expression is therefore equivalent to saying, "We will not let Him go."

Verse 1. - The elder. Not an unlikely appellation to have been given to the last surviving apostle. Other apostles had been called elders; their successors also were called elders; but St. John was "the elder." That there was a second John at Ephesus, who was known as "the elder," to distinguish him from the apostle and evangelist, is a theory of Eusebius, based upon a doubtful interpretation of an awkwardly worded passage in Papias. But it is by no means certain that any such person ever existed. Irenaeus, who had read Papias, and been intimate with Polycarp, the disciple of St. John, seems to know nothing of any such person. Even if he existed, there is little reason for attributing this Epistle to him; it is too like the First Epistle to be by a different author. Unto the elect lady. This rendering of ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ should be retained: ἐκλεκτήcannot be a proper name, on account of verse 13; κυρία need not be one. We commit ourselves to nothing that is disputable if we render κυρία "lady;" whereas if we render it "Kyria" it is open to any one to object that perhaps the lady's name was not Kyria, and that perhaps she is not an individual at all, but a Church. She is elect, as being chosen out of the dominion of the evil one (1 John 5:19) into the Christian family. She is thus reminded at the outset of the relationship between them; she is a member of that elect company of believers of which he is the elder. It is futile to ask who this lady is. There have been various conjectures, some of them absurd; but we know no more than the letter itself tells us. Evidently the lady and her children were not among the great ones of the earth; they have made no name in the world. And herein lies one of the chief lessons of the Epistle. Those mentioned in it were ordinary people, such as any Church in any generation might produce. But because they were faithful, and endeavoured to live up to their calling, the apostle loved them, and all true Christians loved them, and he dared to assure them that "grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father" should be their portion. Any Christian minister may give the same assurance to faithful Christians, however humble and inconspicuous, still. They may win no place in the history of the world that is passing away; but they have a place in the heart of him who abideth for ever. Note the characteristic repetition of the characteristic word "truth," which occurs five times in the first four verses. All words respecting truth and bearing witness to it are characteristic of St. John. In two of the five cases "truth" has the article; "all they that know the truth; for the truth's sake which abideth in us." It is not impossible that "the truth" here means him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Christ is the Revelation of Divine truth to man. All who know him love all faithful Christians for his sake. To the apostle truth was not a mere notion, "or a set of notions, however large and accurate; it was no theory about God, but God himself, and God manifest in the flesh in order that we might know him and partake his life."

1:1-3 Religion turns compliments into real expressions of respect and love. And old disciple is honourable; an old apostle and leader of disciples is more so. The letter is to a noble Christian matron, and her children; it is well that the gospel should get among such: some noble persons are called. Families are to be encouraged and directed in their love and duties at home. Those who love truth and piety in themselves, should love it in others; and the Christians loved this lady, not for her rank, but for her holiness. And where religion truly dwells, it will abide for ever. From the Divine Persons of the Godhead, the apostle craves grace, Divine favour, and good-will, the spring of all good things. It is grace indeed that any spiritual blessing should be given to sinful mortals. Mercy, free pardon, and forgiveness; for those already rich in grace, need continual forgiveness. Peace, quietness of spirit, and a clear conscience, in assured reconciliation with God, together with all outward prosperity that is really for good: these are desired in truth and love.